The number that matters
We tell people the average time from first inquiry to keys in hand is 14 days. That's true and it's also slightly misleading — it's the average across all our units, which means some go faster and some go slower. The faster ones are usually move-ins where the applicant has good credit, recent pay stubs ready, and a 30-day notice already submitted to their current landlord.
What the two weeks actually looks like
Day 0 — You see a listing on our site, click through, and either book a self-guided tour with a SmartRent code or message us to schedule one with a leasing agent. Most messages get a reply inside four hours during business days.
Days 1-3 — You tour. If you want to apply, the application form takes about 12 minutes. You upload pay stubs (or an offer letter), photo ID, and your last two landlords' contact info. You pay $50 per adult applicant.
Days 3-5 — We pull credit, call your prior landlord, and verify employment. If everything looks good, we approve. If something is off, we flag it specifically — we don't deny silently. You hear back within one business day in the great majority of cases.
Days 5-8 — Lease emailed for digital signature. You wire first month plus security deposit through the resident portal. We send a move-in checklist.
Days 12-14 — You pick up keys at our Echo Park office or, increasingly often, at the unit itself with a leasing agent. We do a quick walkthrough so we agree on the move-in condition.
What slows it down
- Applicants who don't have pay stubs or rental history readily available
- Self-employed applicants whose tax returns take a few days to dig up
- Section 8 applicants — HACLA inspection scheduling adds 5-10 days, which is a HACLA timing thing, not us
- Move-in dates more than 30 days out (some leases hold longer; the timeline above assumes you want to move in soon)
If you're trying to time it tightly — say, you're moving from out of state and your start date at a new job is fixed — message us before you apply. We'll tell you whether the math works.